May 20, 2005
Marty Cutrone, National Director
"The 40 Days of Purpose"
Saddleback Baptist Church
1 Saddleback Parkway
Lake Forest CA 92630
(949) 609-8000
Re: Ken Blanchard and the New Age Movement
Dear Marty:
I have had the opportunity to review your comments
regarding Ken Blanchard, his spirituality and the New Age Movement
(hereinafter, NAM). As you read this, please keep in mind that I and
others have spent a considerable amount of time researching this
situation. As I offer the following for your consideration, please be
assured that what you are about to read is only the tip of the iceberg.
First, I want to make it crystal clear that neither
I nor my colleagues have anything personal against you, Ken Blanchard or
Rick Warren. Because we are dealing with precious souls of whom Christ
died for and the spiritual welfare of Christians, we take a serious look
at the available information and act on it as the Lord directs.
Accordingly, if an individual, group or
organization claims to be Christian, but detracts from the essentials of
historic Christianity--and is found to be misleading the body of
Christ--it is the calling and task of every Christian to reach-out in
love, share the truth, defend the faith and, if necessary, expose
deception.
Therefore, we have no desire, whatsoever, to
misinform or mislead the body of Christ, fabricate lies, have our names
in lights or sensationalize the issues we address and deal with. And,
during the process, if anyone is offended, then let them be offended in
love. Jesus Christ was and is our greatest example of love and
compassion, yet He offended virtually everyone in His day.
He still does.
Having not spoken to you, I will assume from the
following quote that you are well aware of the danger and
deception within the NAM, and the need for those caught up in a "New Age
Church" to be saved:
"PS I happen to know that a 'New Age
Church' up in Oregon implemented
the 40 Days of Purpose this last fall...and I absolutely applaud this. I
hope and pray their people read and heard the truth, and come to a
saving knowledge of Jesus. To have discovered this and banned them from
participation, would have been a travesty and done nothing but create
ill will, and not given the Holy Spirit an opportunity to impact hearts.
My opinion..." (Marty Cutrone, "Re: pastor training programs,"
Challies.com, 2/26/04 8:55am, http://www.challies.com/archives/000124.php ).
I fully agree that those caught up in the
NAM need the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as long as that knowledge
comes from the truths of God's word, that is (Romans 10:7). Afterall,
there is another Jesus, another gospel and another
spirit roaming in-and-out of the body of Christ, of which the
Apostle Paul warns about in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 and Galatians 1:6-9.
Certainly, solid, Bible-based books and
materials serve their purpose, as long as they are doctrinally solid and
Biblically-based. But nothing from the hand or mind of man superceeds
the inspired word of God; the final authority. Nothing (Hebrews 4:12).
Now, with the above in mind, I direct your
attention to the Hoffman Quadrinity Process, Bob Hoffman, the Hoffman
Institue Board of Advisors and links for further research:
The Hoffman Quadrinity Process:
the personal account of the Hoffman Quadrinity Process workshop,
written by Tony Schwartz, "...bestselling author and a nationally
recognized authority on performance, change and growth."
Bob Hoffman:
(deceased), was the founder of the Hoffman Institute and the Hoffman
Quadrinity Process, and was an integral part of the NAM:
"It is now 33 years since an
American psychic named Bob Hoffman blended his own
channelled and intuited insights with the psychological
teachings of the noted neurologist and psychiatrist Dr Siegfried Fischer
to create the Hoffman Quadrinity Process. To date more than 30 000 people
have become Process participants" (emp. mine).
Source:
http://www.hoffmaninstitute.co.uk/articles/detox.htm
"The list of Hoffman Process
graduates is impressive and sometimes surprising. It includes the likes of
international management guru Ken Blanchard and Apollo 14
astronaut Edgar Mitchell. It contains an abundance of psychiatrists (like
TM doyen and author Harold Bloomfield) as well as professors of
psychiatry" (ibid., emp. mine).
The Hoffman Institute Board of
Advisors
"Ken Blanchard, Ph.D.
San Diego, CA
Chairman of Blanchard Training and
Development, Inc., an international training company in business
management. He is also a consultant and inspirational lecturer, author
or co-author of 12 books including
The One Minute Manager
series. In addition, he is a visiting lecturer at Cornell University,
where he serves as Trustee Emeritus."
Ken Blanchard's statements on
the Hoffman Process:
"The Hoffman
Process brings forth spiritual leadership in a person. It made my
spirituality come alive. Through the Hoffman Process I actually brought
my faith into my daily actions. Ken
Blanchard, Ph.D. Chair, Blanchard Training and Development, Inc., Author
of One-Minute Manager"
"The Hoffman Process allows people to
resolve many issues that they use to prop their character up, such as
unproductive beliefs about themselves and other people, and the need to
be controlling."--Ken Blanchard, Chairman of Blanchard Training and
Development and author of the best-selling "The One Minute Manager"
series of books.
Once you have taken the time to thoroughly
review the above irrefutable documentation, there is more, and I will be
glad to share it with you if necessary. However, if you are unwilling to
do so, then I will assume you are either gullible, naive, could care
less or purposely deceiving your colleagues and constituants-- and I
won't waste my time or yours with follow up correspondence.
One thing is for certain, you have failed
to put Ken Blanchard and his spirituality to the Biblical test (1
Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1), which is a Scriptural command for all
Christians to read, heed and follow.
Whatever the case may be, the truth will
stand up to investigation. While I love you in Christ and pray you are
reachable, I hope you haven't developed the prideful, heart-numbing
attitude of Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.
Thank you, Marty. I look forward to
hearing from you at your earliest possible convenience. Please be
informed that your reply will be subject to public scrutiny.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
(Jude 3)